Initiatives

K – 12

It is a simple fact of democratic life that the future of the nation is shaped in large part by the education we offer to the next generation. At the University of Pikeville Center for Public Service, we strive to do what we can to support the cultivation of future citizens.

• Constitution Day
  • The Center for Public Service hosts an annual Constitution Day event. This event invites students from high schools across Central Appalachia and educates them in the principles of self-government. Students participate in a series of group activities and attend a public lecture.

• School Outreach
  • The Center for Public Service sends representatives to visit schools located in Central Appalachia. During these visits, the professors and UPIKE students discuss and instruct the students about the values of the American political tradition and how to be more engaged in their own community.

• Civic Educators Fellowship
  • The Civic Educators Fellowship brings together fifty social studies teachers annually for intensive seminars designed to strengthen civics education across Central Appalachia. Funded by the United States Department of Education, the Fellowship equips educators with tools and resources to reinvigorate civic learning through deep engagement with America’s founding documents—including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Mayflower Compact—while exploring timeless themes like liberty, equality and constitutionalism.

If you are interested in any of our initiatives within the program or partnering on

a new initiative, please email publicservice@upike.edu.

Post – Secondary

It is no coincidence that the Center for Public Service is housed within an institution of higher education. One of our chief missions is to do what we can within the walls of UPIKE to identify and cultivate future leaders for the

• Political Science Minor
  • The University of Pikeville’s political science minor is designed to ensure that students from diverse academic backgrounds can cultivate the skills of thoughtful citizenship and principled leadership. By making the study of politics accessible across disciplines, the Center affirms that civic leadership is a calling open to anyone willing to serve their community with wisdom and integrity.

• Political and Civic Engagement Certificate
  • More information about our certificate program can be through the link below.
    https://www.upike.edu/academics/certificate-programs/

If you are interested in any of our initiatives within the program or partnering on

a new initiative, please email publicservice@upike.edu.

Community

No University or policy center exists on its own – they are embedded within communities that should always form the very heart of their mission. As such, we work to reach out to the surrounding community both to provide them with educational resources that help revitalize small town democracy but also with solutions that can help localities solve the problems they face.

• Public Service Book Club
  • The Center for Public Service hosts a biannual book club where participants learn about the values necessary for democratic citizenship. Previous books have been Darkwater by W.E.B DuBois and Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston.

If you are interested in any of our initiatives within the program or partnering on

a new initiative, please email publicservice@upike.edu.

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